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Surrender Sweet Stranger
Gila was a rebellious bride, determined that this aristocratic matador would never conquer her heart. But her mysterious groom had a mission: to rescue his beloved Mexico from bitter tyranny. And when Gila at last stopped fighting Octavio, she faced the battle of her life--for his magnificent love!
- GenresHistorical
333 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1988
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About the author
DeWanna Pace
20 books5 followersDeWanna Pace is a multi-published author of western historical romances. She loves teaching children about books and being married to her own Texas hero.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 5, 2022
More like 2.5.
Octavio (hero) was ok, & I liked Book the Samurai-turned-ranch-hand. Plus the heroine fostered an orphaned white buffalo, named him Dublin, & let him roam around with the horses to dissuade thievery…which is actually a cool idea, & the only thing I can give her credit for. :P
Alas, the rest was alternately cheesy, dull, & annoying. I found Gila’s lack of desire for personal hygiene particularly gross, because she’s portrayed as a fat tomboy who literally has to be forced to bathe, or even comb her hair. I mean…what the hell is this. 🙈 Nevermind that she also was a ranch hand who rode around with the men, tended the horses, & lived leanly off the land, so I can’t imagine she’d be fat with that kind of background, but c’mon. Being heavy & a tomboy doesn’t mean you’re stinky, unkempt, or afraid of soap. 🙄 She was also rude & threw tantrums at the drop of a hat, including childish name-calling & dumping her food on the hero whenever he dared to point out her deliberate lack of refinement as unbecoming. So endearing! Not. 😑
At least Gila’s racist attitude was addressed & mended, so there’s that much. But the plot was all over the place, poorly paced, & mostly about the ranch; Octavio’s revolutionary leanings rarely intrude on the plodding boredom of romancing Gila & riding around to look at her father’s property. Zzzzz.
Octavio (hero) was ok, & I liked Book the Samurai-turned-ranch-hand. Plus the heroine fostered an orphaned white buffalo, named him Dublin, & let him roam around with the horses to dissuade thievery…which is actually a cool idea, & the only thing I can give her credit for. :P
Alas, the rest was alternately cheesy, dull, & annoying. I found Gila’s lack of desire for personal hygiene particularly gross, because she’s portrayed as a fat tomboy who literally has to be forced to bathe, or even comb her hair. I mean…what the hell is this. 🙈 Nevermind that she also was a ranch hand who rode around with the men, tended the horses, & lived leanly off the land, so I can’t imagine she’d be fat with that kind of background, but c’mon. Being heavy & a tomboy doesn’t mean you’re stinky, unkempt, or afraid of soap. 🙄 She was also rude & threw tantrums at the drop of a hat, including childish name-calling & dumping her food on the hero whenever he dared to point out her deliberate lack of refinement as unbecoming. So endearing! Not. 😑
At least Gila’s racist attitude was addressed & mended, so there’s that much. But the plot was all over the place, poorly paced, & mostly about the ranch; Octavio’s revolutionary leanings rarely intrude on the plodding boredom of romancing Gila & riding around to look at her father’s property. Zzzzz.
March 15, 2015
I have to be honest and say I skimmed through a lot of pages when it started to bore me and wasn't sure I'd finish it at the beginning; but I'm glad I did. The closer I got to the ending the more I started to like it. The characters were a nice variation to the usual heroe & heroine, and the ending was very sweet.
June 29, 2012
I loved this novel. This is the book's back description:
SHE WAS A REBELLIOUS BRIDE OF A RARE BEAUTY, UNTAMED FURY - AND THE PAWN OF AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE...
Trembling yet defiant, Gila faced her new husband - the bold matador with fire beneath his icy-blue gaze. Encircled in his arms, she knew the sweet fulfillment of her womanhood - but vowed this stranger would never conquer her heart. As the days passed, their desire surged. Yet her mysterious groom had a desperate mission: to rescue his beloved Mexico from bitter tyranny. And when Gila at last stopped fighting her proud husband, she faced the battle of her life... for his magnificent love!
SHE WAS A REBELLIOUS BRIDE OF A RARE BEAUTY, UNTAMED FURY - AND THE PAWN OF AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE...
Trembling yet defiant, Gila faced her new husband - the bold matador with fire beneath his icy-blue gaze. Encircled in his arms, she knew the sweet fulfillment of her womanhood - but vowed this stranger would never conquer her heart. As the days passed, their desire surged. Yet her mysterious groom had a desperate mission: to rescue his beloved Mexico from bitter tyranny. And when Gila at last stopped fighting her proud husband, she faced the battle of her life... for his magnificent love!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews